Learning to drive a (manual) car in 2024 as a 25 year old guy?

[myunameispw]

Riding a car(irrespective of manual/automatic) used to be one of my biggest fear. So much that I was scared to even go to the driving school to learn. Then I started to take psycho-therapy and slowly that is decreasing.
Even in the past I believed "I can never learn to drive" and even in the present it's in my mind(even though fear is not there).
I've proved that I can learn driving. Because in the past, I used to think I can't drive a motorcycle, but now I've passed the license of motorcycle test.(Not exactly motorcycle but a scooter, difference is it doesn't have a clutch).
My biggest issue while driving
I can't measure the amount of steering that I need to turn/rotate in order to protect the objects nearby me. It baffles me how a human being can accurately judge that stuff. I really wonder if I can ever understand the science behind this mechanism or is there a rule of thumb or something.
Earlier, fear was stopping me, now my skills are stopping me. And honestly, I am very sad because they've limited my life.

 

[Concrete]

Practice makes perfect, when you are doing it daily instead of in a car with an instructor an hour a week you rapidly learn the skills.

If you want to have an easier time learning to use a manual, get a diesel, imo their powerband is far more forgiving for new drivers.

 

[Scania]

Fear of driving before doing so isn't something particularly unusual to a non driver I'd guess, neither is not initially being able to grasp the concept of steering / manoeuvring a vehicle.

I remember long before I could drive thinking I couldn't or wouldn't be able to, and I was most certainly not great at steering when I first started my lessons.

I have now been driving for a living for over 30 years, HGV's for the last 27 of them.

You already have the up on me, I'm hopeless on a pushbike never mind a motorcycle, frankly, I think your vastly over thinking your situation.

Have professional tuition, you may not pass first time (I didn't!) but, you'll get there.

 

[jellybeard999]

Speak to an instructor and theyll probably let you book a session and take you to a quiet industrial estate or car park to get used to it.

Some instructors do taster sessions on an airfield/race track too, so that's another option. I believe under 17s and non licence holders can book these, so they'd definitely be geared up for absolute beginners.

Just jump in with both feet. You've proven with the motorbike that you can do it and it's all psychological. Explain your situation to the instructor and I'm sure they'll be able to help. Lots of new students are nervous/anxious etc so you're not alone.

Maybe in your situation learning in an automatic is probably a good idea initially. You can always change to manual mid say through and its one less thing to worry about.

 

[tom_e]

If you can ride a scooter and not get pancaked you'll manage a car. (I had my bike licence for 5 years before going for my car licence).

 

[Brok]

I took some lessons when i was 17, was in a major car accident (not me driving) not long after and didnt get behind the wheel again until I was 29. You can overcome it, it does feel extremely unnatural to start with but as others have said, practice makes perfect and it will eventually become instinctive.

On the steering front, my instructor had a toy car that had wheels which moved to demonstrate how turning works, unless something really unusual happens the car will respond in a predictable way to steering inputs its then a case of learning what that is and getting comfortable with it.

Being able to drive has transformed my life and allowed me to go down a career path that would have been completely closed to me otherwise. Stick with it, its worth it!